Rights for Voters with Specific Needs

What is the Law?

Four federal laws are of special importance to disabled and elderly voters who have specific needs.

Voting Rights Act of 1965: Any voter requiring assistance may receive it from a person of the voter’s choice, other than the voter’s employer or agent of that employer or officer or agent of the voter’s union.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA): Requires public entities to provide program access, reasonable modification of policy, and auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of service, program or activity conducted by a public entity.

Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA): New federal legislation enabling greater opportunity for access and participation in the election process, including provisions regarding accessible voting technologies in polling places by 2006.

What are the Goals of the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk?

The goal of the RR/CC is to have 100% participation of eligible voters in all elections, 100% polling place accessibility and options for all voters who seek independent and private voting.

In compliance with Federal and State laws, we provide services to voters with disabilities, including:

Accessible polling places

Wheelchair-accessible voting booths

Large type voting instructions and magnifying devices at polling places

Marking device with enlarged ball for ease of grasp

TDD services for the deaf and hard of hearing

Cassette tapes with State and County ballot measures

Absentee/vote-by-mail voting options

Pollworker assistance at any step of the voting process

Voter outreach presentations

Accessibility Advisory

The Los Angeles County Voting Accessibility Advisory Consultant assists the Department in providing information about voter registration and election matters to senior citizens and those with disabilities.

The RR/CC's consultant is Angela Davis, Senior Deputy for the Disabilities Civil Rights Section (DCR) for Los Angeles County, who advises the Department on ways to make the election process more accessible to all citizens in the County. She can be contacted at (213) 202-5826.